Katrina Castro 

English 10-1 

Mrs. Baker 

Memories can be like​ the ​oxygen that is essential to give us life. We may not be 
able to see it but oxygen is in the air. We expend and carry it throughout our lives​, j​ust as 
our memories are within our minds and hearts. We are able to remember each 
individual through our minds and connect through our hearts with those involved in our 
memories.​ The image of the children on the country road reminds me that our 
childhood memories with our siblings allow us to simply breathe knowing that it 
will sustain us in our everyday lives even as we grow older into our adulthood.  
 
The image portrays our relationships and bonds with our siblings that are built 
within our childhood years. Photos of our childhood are able to ​apprise​ ​remind​ us about 
the comforts of our siblings so that we may be able to restore a cheerful outlook on life. 
Elements in the image are natural. This divulges a real-life loving relationship that is 
initiated between siblings when bonding took action in their childhood days. As depicted 
in the image, a child has an arm around ​them by someone​ ​the other ​who is a year or two 
older. The “arm” can symbolize this built-in support that reveals the capability of this 
person keeping their closeness as a sibling for a lifetime. Having a sense of comfort from 
our siblings whom we can trust, allows us to feel safe and know that we have someone to 
depend on to give us advice when we are in need of one at any time. Siblings are the 
breath of fresh air when your lungs are drowning in distress. Despite ​of​ no longer living 
the childhood days, the image brings my attention to how our relationships created with 
our siblings can still be brought into the future but with a different circumstance. 
 
Reminiscing of my childhood memories is the oxygen that is necessitated when I 
am laboured in my breath. I a​m always getting​ get ​clouded by nostalgia making me feel a 
sense of regret when not in the presence of making memories with people that give me 
that breath of fresh air. As I recollect, times with my sisters when we were younger, 
were days ​you​ cannot just neglect and throw down the drain. Over the past years, we 
have created a friendship that has become the foundation of who we are today. 
However, finding trouble within us is not a difficult task. This can easily imply to my 
sister who is only a year older than me. There are days with her when happiness streaks 
through us like a comet but other days it is like a cloudy day with no hope for sunshine. 
Nevertheless, making memories with her is neither difficult. As time went on, knowing 
that “living that best life” as a kid was long gone, it caused heartache which meant that 
time spent with my other two sisters were lessened as adulting caught up to them. 
Despite this obstacle, we never let it get in our way when we all reunite because we are 
inseparable at heart. My sisters are a part of me and allowing them to continue being a 
part of my life means having a shoulder to cry on when I am dissatisfied with myself. 
Despite time flying by, memories created with my siblings are moments that will never 
be lost at any day. They are found in my heart, allowing it to beat. I now know that 
memories can easily warm one’s heart, allowing it to never get lost in a storm of dust but 
maintain a sustaining life with people that keep us alive.   
 
Reflectively, my siblings are the visible oxygen that keep​s ​me going. Just like the 
image, having a sense of connection with people that have been with ​you f​or a life long 
will always make up the memories that are worth looking back to. I hope to always 
appreciate every moment with my siblings as their presence gives me the comfort and 
satisfaction I need to enjoy every breath. 
 

You did a good job analyzing the image and then analyzing how the claim and the
image is alive and well in your own life Katrina, well done! When the exemplars are
released, I’d like you to carefully consider how well developed they are in terms of ​claim
in analysis and how the claim applies to life​. Most importantly, I’d like you to notice
how the “voice” sounds - give yourself the freedom to be who you are in your writing
and allow your personality to come out rather than trying to sound so “official”. Keep
growing, you’ve got strong potential to be powerful on paper!